Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Smirker on February 07, 2024, 11:43:27 PM
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Sunday, 4:30pm kick-off.
Well it's time to forget tonight's result in my opinion.
That loss at OT should be fresh in their minds and they should be determined to put it right.
We'll win and everything will be calm again.
3-1 Villa.
FTF 8)
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5-0
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0-4
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0-4
Ditto. I fear a mauling.
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0-4
Ditto. I fear a mauling.
Really?
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Yes. Do you think we played well tonight?
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Hopefully Torres is back and fully fit.
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Fernandes will fuck us over somehow.1-3 defeat.
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I was optimistic till I realised TV hadn't started the pre-match thread.
Ah f*ck it, I won't abandon the good ship Smirker just yet. 3-2 to Villa boys, we owe them that.
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Fucking no chance based on the last two home performances which were as bad as anything served up under fucking Garde, never mind Gerrard.
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Yes. Do you think we played well tonight?
No but we played well in the last game and we could play well in the next game.
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We're playing more mid table shite, who have the wood on us and the home form has totally collapsed. The performances are fucking chronic, never mind the results. We'll get the 5 or 6 hammering we absolutely deserved tonight and against Newcastle if we put in as disgusting a display as that again.
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A stirring 2-2
But they'll no doubt, with a shaved eyebrow or stupid goal celebration, cheat and win.
The absolute ******
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Based on tonight I expect us to get a hammering, needs a complete turnaround to avoid that.
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If Carlos and Lenglet are our CBs then I fear the worst, and I’m not even sure Torres can carry either of those pair over 90+ minutes. It’s not looking good.
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Hopefully Torres is back and fully fit.
That alone will not be enough, they have pace across their front 3.
The same approach at Old Trafford, against Newcastle and last night we get stuffed.
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I'll be eating beetles and fish knackers somewhere in SE Asia so won't be watching the shit show.
2-4
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Yes. Do you think we played well tonight?
No but we played well in the last game and we could play well in the next game.
We played well against. perhaps the worst PL team since us in 2015/16.
None of our recent performances against anyone half decent suggest we will play well on Sunday
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Steel, application, taken chances, Torres back. Winning 50/50s. Please!
This about more than points and widening / maintaining the gap. It’s about momentum and pride, and looking forward to the rest of the season. Massive game.
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You have to hope for some kind of reaction (again) so a decent 1-1 will be acceptable and keep the gap. Tippy tappy in defence should be banned until the first teamers return. SJM and Dougie will have a stormer
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For gamblers, believers in fate and the just downright lugubrious, this game is taking place on my birthday. We have no chance.
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I think (well, hope) that the performance will be better, but even that would lift us from terrible to not that bad and while the presence of Torres will help, it won't be everything. The pre-match focus on Chelsea, to the complete exclusion of us, has continued post match with all and sundry claiming it as comfortably their best performance of the season and I can see the media doing exactly the same again. We're bad enough throwing shit performances in but the cheerleading for the opposition only makes it worse.
It will need a drastic turn around but I can't really see it and the hour long meetings, forensic focus on tactics and the oppositions strengths and weaknesses are no match for attitude and that's sorely lacking at the moment.
0-3
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Let's put in a good performance, grab a decent result and we'll say no more about Wednesday, eh?
I think we'll sneak a narrow win here, 2-1
Interesting, as an aside, how much better our away form has been this calendar year than our home. Two wins, two draws - both of which we could have won - agg 6-0. Last away goal conceded was Newton Heath's winner on boxing day
We'll secure a hard fought, narrow victory and put ourselves right back on track. That's what I'm telling myself
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For gamblers, believers in fate and the just downright lugubrious, this game is taking place on my birthday. We have no chance.
Aquarius: You will watch a bunch of knobheads from a northern city get twatted today...
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After last nights showing, Emery will have to work his magic, to make sure that the players believe they can beat United
Unfortunately I can only see another afternoon of pain and misery against that lot - 1 -4
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I'll be eating beetles and fish knackers somewhere in SE Asia so won't be watching the shit show.
2-4
I found crystal meth to be a godsend when I lived in Cambodia during the 2011-12 Mcleish season.
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I'll be eating beetles and fish knackers somewhere in SE Asia so won't be watching the shit show.
2-4
I found crystal meth to be a godsend when I lived in Cambodia during the 2011-12 Mcleish season.
Claret and Blue Persuasion.
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We struggle against this lot at the best of times (eg. Boxing Day).
On current form, especially with Torres the only defender available with half a brain, anyone that thinks anything other than a battering at the hands of that lot is either drunk or needs to be admitted to the asylum.
Really thought we’d turned a corner against Sheffield Utd. But on last nights/ and the Newcastle showing, it shows that their shiteness was just papering over the cracks.
Had time to sleep on it. Still think we’ll lose this 0-4.
Desperately need Konsa and Digne back.
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Massive chance the season disintergrates Sunday. They'll absolutely annihilate us the way we've played of late at home and that would be the first time we've failed to respond all season. To miss out on Champions League football will have such dire consequences with Martinez, Luiz etc being ripped from us. Then you're back in the cycle of waiting for a side to slump again, despite their huge advantages. We've got 1 chance and we're about to blow it. You'll be a lot older before we're here again. Last time it was 13 years.
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Jeez there's some negativity on here.
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Jeez there's some negativity on here.
Given the last two home performances and the way we fell apart Boxing Day can you really blame people?
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Right now I'd be astounded if we don't lose because our last two home matches have been shite and it's them. But this team has bounced back before so I'm just hoping we're all pleasantly surprised come Sunday evening.
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For gamblers, believers in fate and the just downright lugubrious, this game is taking place on my birthday. We have no chance.
I still remember the game on my birthday in 2009.
I had a house full of guests, we were beating them 2-1 with 10 minutes to go and we lost 3-2, 17 year old Macheda scoring the winner in the 93rd minute.
The neutrals watching all couldn't believe we lost the game, the Villa fans amongst us just shrugged our shoulders and told them, this is what happens.
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Do they have any players struggling to hit form? if so they will score the winner
Villa to lose 3-2.
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We're still 4th and have lost 2 league games since November. We've followed each loss with a win.
The level of negativity is pretty ridiculous tbqh
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We've just put in a performance every bit as cowardly, lacking in effort and cohesion as we put in the year we were relegated. Imagine being able to say we were more insipid than when we got beat by them under Gerrard. That was an absolutely shameful performance where we've managed to embarrass ourselves to a wider audience against mid-table dross. There's negativity on the pitch.
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With Holjund, Rashford and Garnacho all with pace, and Fernandez able to pick passes if not closed down, I'm not sure why people who watched the Newcastle, Manure at their place and Chelsea performances feel like we are going to win this?
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With Holjund, Rashford and Garnacho all with pace, and Fernandez able to pick passes if not closed down, I'm not sure why people who watched the Newcastle, Manure at their place and Chelsea performances feel like we are going to win this?
We can't be as bad again. That's what I'm hoping anyway.
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More reality than negativity.
The press are saying our bubble has burst, hard to disagree.
Since we blew the chance to go top at Xmas, we look like a mid table team.
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Feels like it's going to be a struggle. I'm not sure we can stop them having a field day down our wings even if Torres is back.
Hopefully Unai can come up with a bespoke plan, but it's hard to be optimistic for this one.
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Ideally we win of course, but a draw isn't a disaster. Keeps them 8 points and 20 goals behind with another game gone. Lose and put in another stinker and alarm bells will start ringing.
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there are too many weak points in our defence that i can't see how we keep them out unless we play this game totally differently . The whole back 4 of Cash Carlos Lenglet Moreno are very poor and full of errors
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there are too many weak points in our defence that i can't see how we keep them out unless we play this game totally differently . The whole back 4 of Cash Carlos Lenglet Moreno are very poor and full of errors
For once, I entirely agree with you.
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Torres 10% fit is better than Lenglet. He gas to come in.
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The way he warmed up at half time I thought he was coming on. The early goal changed that decision.
It was the same thing with injury time - I am convinced the conversation between the 4th official and our bench was about the length of time he was going to show (easily 7 or 8 minutes) and they were happy to take 4 mins... When the time was show Torres gave the 4th official some grief but was told to sit down by McPhee. Never seen that before.
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1-3 loss. Going to be messy. Emery has to go low block, debt space in behind and do them on the counter, which is what has hurt United all season. Without Konsa we don't have pace in behind, matches and no pre season are catching up with Moreno. Kamara is getting pressed so quickly on the ball at home and has few options and Doug has dipped in form at home for sure, so we need a big shift to get anything.
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Well, Manchester Utd will follow through the hole in the wall that Newcastle and Chelsea knocked down. Or at least they will try to.
If Unai faces up to the risk and has the team as a group playing deeper and being more compact to deny them space and time then we have a chance.
If he continues with the existing game plan then we will lose again.
Unfortunately, I fear that Unai is not for turning.
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A complete no show from Villa and another home loss, it’s what happens when we play these. Condition yourself to it so that it doesn’t spoil the end of your weekend.
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Not so sure. Both Newcastle and Chelsea dominated us in central midfield, but it's one area where we could potentially be stronger than Manchester United.
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If a genie was to appear before me right now, then 1 of my wishes would be this. To have the chance to come on in the 89th minute on Sunday with us 5-0 up and with 8 minutes of time to be added. 8 minutes would be enough time for me to fulfil a dream of snapping that ****** Bruno Fernandes into next week. I think I'd start off with a bullying shoulder barge to floor him and then follow up with a straight through the ball, you and your ancestors scything tackle. Yellow card in this day and age. So to finish, a Tana Umaga on O'Driscoll style spear tackle. Eat that you horrible rat.
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Newcastle didn't dominate midfield, they totally bypassed it and we had no answer.
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Surely our centre mids, all of whom are clearly extremely good players, can't be that shit again? I'm very concerned about both Lenglet and Carlos - there's clearly a massive drop off in quality from Torres and Konsa. I'm very unconvinced that Torres will be fit for Sunday.
Frankly I'd take a draw, which is an odd thing to say when playing at home to a team we're eight points ahead of, but it keeps them well behind us and would mean we'd at least be joint 4th going into a reasonably kind run of fixtures.
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Set up for a 0-0 . Frustrate them and hit them on the counter. It's the only way.
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We can win this but have to change what we do due to the injuries. I’d play Bailey and Diaby wide of a central midfield 3. Without Konsa and Torres we can’t let Cash or Moreno fly forward and leave the space we do behind. Neither Lenglet or Carlos have pace and to do the same as last night will lead to exactly the same result as the last 2 home games.
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Newcastle didn't dominate midfield, they totally bypassed it and we had no answer.
Spot on. They just got Guimares to stick the ball behind our full backs and ran in on goal. Much like Chelsea last night. Drop them back and be hard to beat for a few games.
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I just can't see Emery making a massive change in the system like a 433 - which we have the player for - it just doesn't seem to be how he operates.
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I have a feeling this is going to be a decisive match for the rest of the season.
Unfortunately, I also have a feeling it is going to go badly, because the last two home performances have been absolutely woeful.
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Garnacho and Rashford will fill their boots against our back four. It's not going to be pretty.
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We need a fast start and to get in front early, otherwise we're fucked.
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The smart money would be on us getting a right mauling on Sunday but I think that somehow Unai will devise a Plan B and we’ll grind out a narrow victory. I’m going 2-1.
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We absolutely have to protect the back four more. The fullbacks have been terrible in the last two home games, but they’ve been left completely exposed. The midfield is neither protecting the defence, or creating coherent attack. We must, must, must get the midfield influencing the game or Garnacho will have a field day.
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The smart money would be on us getting a right mauling on Sunday but I think that somehow Unai will devise a Plan B and we’ll grind out a narrow victory. I’m going 2-1.
We're through the looking glass and frankly, I just don't know what to believe in anymore.
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The last two home games it’s almost been like playing with 7/8 men, because the midfield have been so bypassed and that’s what the games have felt like - wave after wave of opposition attack and very little offered back. Hopefully Unai’s post match comments are just for public consumption, and he’s very clear on the reality of those two performances and where the problems are.
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I know it's still raw after last night, but I'm quite shocked at the poll. Maybe it's rose tinted glasses,but I think we'll see a different Villa Sunday.
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I know it's still raw after last night, but I'm quite shocked at the poll. Maybe it's rose tinted glasses,but I think we'll see a different Villa Sunday.
Same here. Lose though, and I might hold off on booking my tickets to Athens for a few more weeks.
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I know it's still raw after last night, but I'm quite shocked at the poll. Maybe it's rose tinted glasses,but I think we'll see a different Villa Sunday.
Unfortunately, I don't even think it will be close.
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If Konsa and Torres were fit it would be a very different poll and outcome.
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Last night was awful. I think it hit me harder than last week because I took my six-year-old for his first ‘proper’ night game. It wasn’t supposed to go like that…
However, I think we need to collectively hold our nerve. This is a (pretty major) wobble, but it doesn’t have to mean that everything is about to fall apart. We have a say in that, and now is not the time to resign ourselves to loss after loss. Anyone can have faith in something when things are going well - that’s not impressive. When things start to go wrong is when you get tested, and as a club I think we need to be a bit braver in how we cope with things.
I think it’s obvious where things are starting to slip - our entire game plan is based around playing out from the back, and the back four that we had to play last night just aren’t up to it. At least, they’re not currently playing well enough to move us up the pitch quickly, which is what we need to do to be successful.
There was a moment in the first half last night when Lenglet had the ball, and Watkins dropped off into our half, so he was in space to receive it. Lenglet hesitated, turned, and played it back to Martinez. He either didn’t see the pass, or didn’t have the confidence in himself to pull it off.
Those few seconds, for me, summed up what is going wrong at the moment - and it is actually quite a minor thing, but has a huge impact on a game. Go back and look at our goal against Arsenal - it’s almost the exact same situation, but in that instance, Torres was able to clip it to Ollie’s feet, who played it into the midfielders who were facing up the pitch, and we could progress.
Without that first pass though, we can’t control the game.
So why are we persevering with a tactic that our (fit) players can’t carry out? They can’t play that way, so we need to modify the tactics to suit the players. I think we all said the same at almost exactly this point last year. But we held our nerve, and kept going. Then it all clicked.
It should be easier this time around - we’re not waiting on an entire squad to get to grips with it, we just need a few, or, even better, we need players that are more comfortable playing that way (Torres, Konsa, Digne) to get fit again.
There are other issues at the moment, I’ll grant you. We seem to be getting outfought by the more physical opposition that we play against. And our back line is far too open when we lose the ball (although I would suggest that most teams in the league would really be struggling with their best three centre backs out). There are no excuses for that, but I think it all comes down to losing that initial control. If we get that back, suddenly we’re a bit braver on the ball and off it. We press with more intensity, we hit the pass first time rather than taking the touch, we fight that little bit harder.
Sunday is a massive game. If we play anything like we did last night, or last week, we will get battered - I’m sure of that. So we need to make sure we’re much better - we used to just lie down and accept that we’re probably going to lose, and we usually did. This time we need to hold our nerve.
My boy said he wants to go to another match next week (he assumed that, like his swimming lessons, the matches were every Wednesday after school). I can’t help but feed off his enthusiasm, so I can’t wait for Sunday.
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We need a fast start and to get in front early, otherwise we're fucked.
Even that won't work against that lot. Lost count of how many times we've been on top and blown 2-0 leads.
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Martinez
Cash Carlos Torres Moreno
McGinn Kamara Luiz Ramsey
Bailey
Watkins
I'd go with this 11 on Sunday. Sit the defense deep, and don't allow Cash or Moreno to leave their neighbouring centerback's side.
McGinn and Ramsey double up with their fullback during any Man United attack, Torres pings the ball to Bailey/Watkins to do the damage at the other end against slabhead and co.
Only way we stand even a remote chance against this lot is to get tighter than a gnat's chuff at the back. Leave no space for their forwards to expose us.
Still think we'll lose this. We don't beat them when we play well - On current form, they'll win it at a canter.
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We need to get control of midfield, or we'll be smashed. And considering their midfield at Old Trafford wasn't any great shakes, it's a big worry. I'd go.
Martinez
Cash Carlos Torres (hopefully) Moreno
Bailey McGinn Kamara Luiz Ramsey
Watkins
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Even putting out our "strongest" team possible at this time I cant see anything other than a defeat - another 1-3 with Watkins scoring late second half
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Sadly, this is a poorly timed fixture for us and I expect us to lose
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3-0
Gage, Platt and Olney
Seriously though 1-3, our home form going to shit just in time for these fuckers.
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The only one I'm worried about is Ganarcho. We usually bounce back quickly so I'm a little more optimistic than others but we need to be at it a lot better than last night.
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The only one I'm worried about is Ganarcho. We usually bounce back quickly so I'm a little more optimistic than others but we need to be at it a lot better than last night.
Yeah, but the Sheffield United result was the bounce back from the Newcastle one, and that was only at the weekend. It's not bouncing back if you're at it one match, then play like Small Heath the next.
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The only one I'm worried about is Ganarcho. We usually bounce back quickly so I'm a little more optimistic than others but we need to be at it a lot better than last night.
Yeah, but the Sheffield United result was the bounce back from the Newcastle one, and that was only at the weekend. It's not bouncing back if you're at it one match, then play like Small Heath the next.
In general under Unai, we do quickly bounce back though more often than not. Hopefully we will again on Sunday.
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We need to get control of midfield, or we'll be smashed. And considering their midfield at Old Trafford wasn't any great shakes, it's a big worry. I'd go.
Martinez
Cash Carlos Torres (hopefully) Moreno
Bailey McGinn Kamara Luiz Ramsey
Watkins
I think we can win with that team. Ramsey looked more like his old self last night - a bit more pace and purpose about him. Tielemens is not who we need when we are in a battle to get control of the game - having him and Diaby to bring on in the second half once the game has opened up a bit could really help, but we need to win that initial battle for control first. This lineup is our best available. Torres being back will be huge - a boost to Doug, Kamara and Carlos. I just hope he's fit enough.
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I'm very comfortable with the tone in this thread. The ones with super-confidence fill me with dread.
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over on Red Cafe they aren't exactly bulging with confidence but they do seem a bit more chirpy today
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I'm fully mentally prepared for the loss so I'm going to be fucking partying when we pull off a miraculous draw.
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Torres is absolutely vital, he makes such a massive difference.
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I know it's still raw after last night, but I'm quite shocked at the poll. Maybe it's rose tinted glasses,but I think we'll see a different Villa Sunday.
Agree mate I can't believe how negative it is on here.
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I know it's still raw after last night, but I'm quite shocked at the poll. Maybe it's rose tinted glasses,but I think we'll see a different Villa Sunday.
Agree mate I can't believe how negative it is on here.
We're 6/5 to win with Paddy Power, Yanited are 2/1. Some easy money to be made for the pessimists. :)
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I know it's still raw after last night, but I'm quite shocked at the poll. Maybe it's rose tinted glasses,but I think we'll see a different Villa Sunday.
Agree mate I can't believe how negative it is on here.
It’s hardly a massive leap though given the last two home performances. We haven’t just lost, we’ve been comprehensively outplayed by two teams who are worse than Manure, and also our most recent experience against them is letting a two goal lead slip and get completely battered for 45 mins.
I hope we see a different Villa, something akin to what we saw against Citeh, but we looks a million miles off that at the moment.
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Agree with taking Tielemans out for Ramsey. JJ still looks like he's playing within himself, tentative because of the double injury no doubt, but we need him to be brave now.
Would be glad of a draw which seems a shameful thing to say as six weeks ago I would have gladly faced this lot every week til the rest of the season.
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There’s a lot of negativity on this pre match thread
So I’ll throw in a bit more I have zero confidence about getting anything out of this game
Man United only have and have only ever had one tactic, counter-attack, unfortunately they are bloody good at it as shown by the goals they score and how effective it is late in games against the run of play
our defence will be like spinning tops by the end of the match, Garnacho will be licking his lips as we speak
Chelsea literally took the piss out of us last night to a televised audience and the same will happen again on Sunday if we don’t play 100% better
On the rare occasion we build up a bit of pressure and the crowd get behind the players and you think come on let’s have a go, then we’re passing the ball round the back for 10 minutes, going back to square one all the time, we lose all impetus the atmosphere falls flat and the opposition think ahh this is good
I don’t mind paying out of the back with the emphasis been on Out
We play around the back and into the back, always very slowly with Carlos lumbering about it’s honestly unbelievable how many negative and cautious balls we play, then we get trapped in the corners and have to hoof it away mainly because we’ve been too negative ponderous not progressive and fucked about too much
With the history of this fixture I don’t think I’ve ever been more in my Boots expecting a flogging
I’ll go as far as to say if we win on Sunday I’ll eat my sou’wester
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Man Utd have to be one of the best counter attacking teams out there , even when they are shite its one aspect they appear well drilled at
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Man Utd seem to have picked up a few points in games where they haven't really deserved to. In those sorts of games we generally come away with nothing.
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I'm fully mentally prepared for the loss so I'm going to be fucking partying when we pull off a miraculous draw.
Miraculous draw? How on earth is that a valid sub-position for a team in 4th place playing mid table dross?
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Man Utd seem to have picked up points in most games where they haven't really deserved to.
FIFY
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I'm fully mentally prepared for the loss so I'm going to be fucking partying when we pull off a miraculous draw.
Miraculous draw? How on earth is that a valid sub-position for a team in 4th place playing mid table dross?
I wasn't being serious, of course it wouldn't be miraculous. I am generally pretty pessimistic about our chances though going by how open our defence has been recently.
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I'm fully mentally prepared for the loss so I'm going to be fucking partying when we pull off a miraculous draw.
Miraculous draw? How on earth is that a valid sub-position for a team in 4th place playing mid table dross?
I’ll be very annoyed if we don’t win, but I fear we won’t. Also they’re 6th aren’t they?!
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I'm fully mentally prepared for the loss so I'm going to be fucking partying when we pull off a miraculous draw.
Miraculous draw? How on earth is that a valid sub-position for a team in 4th place playing mid table dross?
I wasn't being serious, of course it wouldn't be miraculous. I am generally pretty pessimistic about our chances though going by how open our defence has been recently.
I thought that was a bit TIC. Depends on how our two big influencers, Luiz and McGinn, play. Last night they were shambolic and placed our defence under huge predicament and it didn’t end well.
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They are incredibly spawny despite being shit.
Martinez
Cash
Carlos
Torres (please)
Moreno
McGinn
Kamara
Luiz
Ramsey
Watkins
Bailey
McGinn and JJ to really help the full backs by dropping in alternatively to be the 2nd pivot in midfield, when Kamara covers the vacated full back space.
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I'm expecting Bruno Penandez to get his obligatory annual pen/goal down B6
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Bet365 are offering 21/10 on United. That is easy cash. Fill yer boots...
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For gamblers, believers in fate and the just downright lugubrious, this game is taking place on my birthday. We have no chance.
Its the last home game before my 50th (pisces), i feel that fooking miserable today, impending 50th and last night combo, that we simply have to win
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FFS, do we have to play these twats.
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I tho k the last two home performances have overshadowed what was an amazing year of home form….they have to double down on Sunday and prove that they haven’t become soft touches. I still say everything in our team and the way it plays comes from our centre backs….those two have a lot to prove! Can’t for the life of me see either of them here next season
In the blink of an eye we’ve gone from a team to be feared to one to be attacked….we have to stand up to be counted on Sunday or this season could easily turn.
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I know it's still raw after last night, but I'm quite shocked at the poll. Maybe it's rose tinted glasses,but I think we'll see a different Villa Sunday.
Agree mate I can't believe how negative it is on here.
We're 6/5 to win with Paddy Power, Yanited are 2/1. Some easy money to be made for the pessimists. :)
I always put a couple/few quid on the opposition whenever we play (I NEVER back Villa for anything), then I can't lose. Got home last night and in my angry state, immediately put my £15 winnings on a Man Utd victory. I hope I'm a fool who is parted with his money come Sunday evening..... or failing that, I'm 40 quid up.
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For gamblers, believers in fate and the just downright lugubrious, this game is taking place on my birthday. We have no chance.
Its the last home game before my 50th (pisces), i feel that fooking miserable today, impending 50th and last night combo, that we simply have to win
Let's hope it goes swimmingly well for you.
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Against the jawdies and Chelski, we were apparently out-pressed, exposing our CB's and leaving our FB adrift (I missed both games). It seems pretty obvious that, without 3 first choice centre backs and with naturally-attacking fullbacks, the system would need to be adapted and more cover be provided from midfield. That clearly didn't happen. For Sunday, given the CB situation, they'd be best off playing Watkins and Rogers and playing the ball out quickly and directly rather than fannying about at the back.
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People have been criticising the negativity on here, but for home matches negativity is, what we want, positivity has done us no good at all. :)
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Let me turn to the positive: by Sunday evening this fixture will be over for another season, and we won't see those wankers again between now and May.
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We need to win this game.
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For gamblers, believers in fate and the just downright lugubrious, this game is taking place on my birthday. We have no chance.
Its the last home game before my 50th (pisces), i feel that fooking miserable today, impending 50th and last night combo, that we simply have to win
For gamblers, believers in fate and the just downright lugubrious, this game is taking place on my birthday. We have no chance.
Its the last home game before my 50th (pisces), i feel that fooking miserable today, impending 50th and last night combo, that we simply have to win
We won't.
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Bet365 are offering 21/10 on United. That is easy cash. Fill yer boots...
I'll have a bit of that.
Edit*
BetMGM has a 100% boost available making it 4/1. Obviously I went with them.
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For gamblers, believers in fate and the just downright lugubrious, this game is taking place on my birthday. We have no chance.
Its the last home game before my 50th (pisces), i feel that fooking miserable today, impending 50th and last night combo, that we simply have to win
For gamblers, believers in fate and the just downright lugubrious, this game is taking place on my birthday. We have no chance.
Its the last home game before my 50th (pisces), i feel that fooking miserable today, impending 50th and last night combo, that we simply have to win
We won't.
Thank you and goodnight
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Bet365 are offering 21/10 on United. That is easy cash. Fill yer boots...
I'll have a bit of that.
Edit*
BetMGM has a 100% boost available making it 4/1. Obviously I went with them.
I can't get on board with betting against the Villa.
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Torres is absolutely vital, he makes such a massive difference.
Very true. Our central midfield turning up would also help. The defeats against the Saudis and Chelsea were of our own making. Taking nothing away from either team but we were so poor most teams would have beaten us.
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I know it's still raw after last night, but I'm quite shocked at the poll. Maybe it's rose tinted glasses,but I think we'll see a different Villa Sunday.
Agree mate I can't believe how negative it is on here.
The performance last night was frankly disgusting. A carbon copy of the Newcastle first half.
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The only one I'm worried about is Ganarcho. We usually bounce back quickly so I'm a little more optimistic than others but we need to be at it a lot better than last night.
I think if we play Ramsey ahead of Moreno he'll take care of him, maybe by kicking him into the stand. Man united have a lot of players who are flaky so I think we need to turn it into a proper battle and pick players ready for that kind of game. McGinn as captain has a huge role too. Get our fans rocking from the first minute.
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Martinez
Cash Carlos Torres Moreno
Kamara. Luiz
McGinn
Bailey. Watkins. Diaby
Pace and guile up front to push them back and to keep the full backs busy. 3 solid midfielders sitting relatively deep to cover defence.
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Martinez
Cash Carlos Torres Moreno
Kamara. Luiz
McGinn
Bailey. Watkins. Diaby
Pace and guile up front to push them back and to keep the full backs busy. 3 solid midfielders sitting relatively deep to cover defence.
Bailey and Diaby in the same team? We'd lose 7-0. Or 7-1 if we're lucky.
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We’d be even more overrun in midfield than we have been lately.
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We’d be even more overrun in midfield than we have been lately.
Yep agree. Need Ramsey in there
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Bailey and Diaby in the same team is a total non starter.
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With our defence the way it is, i can see us making it a hat trick of 1-3 home defeats. God I hope I’m wrong.
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Maguire will start for them and Watkins will score a hattrick.
We will lose 3-4.
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For gamblers, believers in fate and the just downright lugubrious, this game is taking place on my birthday. We have no chance.
Its the last home game before my 50th (pisces), i feel that fooking miserable today, impending 50th and last night combo, that we simply have to win
It's the last home game before my 68th so a win would be great, but then every game is the last home game before someone's (lots of someone's!) birthday
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Maguire will start for them and Watkins will score a hattrick.
We will lose 3-4.
It'd be his 'Dwight Yorke' moment for the younger generation.
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Twice in the premier league Emery has played Man Utd at home both times winning by a two goal margin
With Villa : 3-1
With Arsenal: 2-0
Overall in 6 Prem matches v Man Utd (Villa and Arsenal) won 2 draw 2 lost 2
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In all competitions we've played them 4 times under Emery already and lost 3 of them.
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In all competitions we've played them 4 times under Emery already and lost 3 of them.
They've all been pretty disappointing defeats, also.
But then again, any defeat, particularly to that lot, is disappointing.
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It’s no longer the game I hate the most.
But I fucking hate this game and my desperation to beat these cheating fuckers, especially the rat faced ******, is as strong as ever.
Just win boys, that’s all I ask.
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I fluking hate them and this fixture.
Rarely ends in cheers mainly in tears
Get it over with, I just hope Torres and Ramsey start
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Anything could happen in this one. Manure are a bit like Chelsea - no discernible style but with match-winning players who can be very good on their day and ineffective on others. We need to deal with the long ball over the top somehow. I’m not on board with the notion we’ve been ‘found out’ though. Any intelligent coach, not even Guardiola or Klopp standard, could have studied us after three weeks under Emery and come up with a theoretical way to play against us. Man City have been ‘found out’ in that there is a theoretical way to stop them, but 99% of the time they’re just too good. We don’t work with Lenglet and Carlos together. As a pairing they are consistently dire.
2-2. I loathe Man U and just look forward to the two meetings being over for another year.
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A draw wouldn't be the worst result in the world...
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Martinez
Cash Carlos Torres Moreno
Kamara. Luiz
McGinn
Bailey. Watkins. Diaby
Pace and guile up front to push them back and to keep the full backs busy. 3 solid midfielders sitting relatively deep to cover defence.
Bailey and Diaby in the same team? We'd lose 7-0. Or 7-1 if we're lucky.
So no worse than you're expecting anyway.
So, instead,
Martinez
Cash Carlos Torres Lenglet Moreno
McGinn Kamara Iroegbunam Luiz
Watkins
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Interesting point though. Why can Man Utd play Rashford and Ganarcho but we can't play Bailey and Diaby?
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A draw wouldn't be the worst result in the world...
Yep, given all the current circumstances a draw would be ok vs these bastards and maintain the 8 point gap.
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Interesting point though. Why can Man Utd play Rashford and Ganarcho but we can't play Bailey and Diaby?
You'd have to ask Emery that, seeing as he rarely has.
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This match almost feels like the first round proper of the Champions League. After the Chelsea debacle, I reckon our players will 'have the bit between their teeth' and Unai's boot up their backside.
Get stuck in, channel our aggression properly and we win this.
2-1 to the boys in C&B.
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Rashford & Garnacho hog the opposite wings and help stretch the pitch for lightning fast counters. When we've played Bailey/Diaby together they've both been in-field stood on each others toes. Sort it Unai
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I can't get on board with betting against the Villa.
I can understand that. It seems disloyal. But I bet against them for the same reason I never have Villa players in my fantasy team. Karma, jinx, superstition, call it whatever. Totally illogical.
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Interesting point though. Why can Man Utd play Rashford and Ganarcho but we can't play Bailey and Diaby?
We can and do, just not very effectively.
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Get JJ and Torres back in the side. We need more energy than Tielemans gives us. We have to learn from the Chelsea defeat and work a whole lot harder than we did against them.
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Interesting point though. Why can Man Utd play Rashford and Ganarcho but we can't play Bailey and Diaby?
We can and do, just not very effectively.
We could do if Bailey was played on the left ...
... but I think I'd prefer Ramsey on the left side of MF, to give great energy on that side.
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Man Utd away recently
3 goals conceded v Wolves
2 goals conceded v Newport
2 goals conceded v Forest
2 goals conceded v West Ham
They also conceded 4 goals at Copenhagen early this season.
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Man Utd away recently
3 goals conceded v Wolves
2 goals conceded v Newport
2 goals conceded v Forest
2 goals conceded v West Ham
They also conceded 4 goals at Copenhagen early this season.
The problem with that is look at Newcastle and Chelsea's recent records.
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Having read people's opinions on Carlos and Chambers in their threads, I wonder whether Emery might consider playing Kamara alongside Lenglet (to add pace and game-reading) and put Tim in front of them. ManUre is not a physical side upfront, but it does have some pace and movement. Kamara would deal with that better than the DC / CC options.
It's pretty unlikely, I'm guessing.
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Get JJ and Torres back in the side. We need more energy than Tielemans gives us. We have to learn from the Chelsea defeat and work a whole lot harder than we did against them.
This is what I expect we'll see.
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Sunday could be a lovely day or a truly awful day.
I can't call it.
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0-2.
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Get JJ and Torres back in the side. We need more energy than Tielemans gives us. We have to learn from the Chelsea defeat and work a whole lot harder than we did against them.
This is what I expect we'll see.
If we don't then we'll get a similar outcome to Wednesday. We need all of the midfield back on top form and we need to score early.
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I'm saying 0-0 as Emery dare not lose this one.
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We’ve just got to get our structure back - we are so easy to play through and teams can do it without much fear, because when we win it back we’re so slow to attack. We were brilliant earlier in the season in ripping through teams, with accuracy, we just have to get that back. If we do that teams will then be fearful to attack, which in turn eases pressure on the defence. I really hope Pau is back and is the key to unlocking our ability to attack again.
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Digne back
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Excellent Pau and Digne back is massive for us.
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The least I expect is that we are at it physically and mentally. I want to see us winning the 50/50s and I want us to take our bloody chances when they come along. Everyone in the team needs to be at the intensity levels we showed pre-Jan. It's like a cup final this one. Win and we will storm top 4. Lose and, err, we probably won't. How I'd feel about a draw would depend on the performance.
Lose 2-3 (AGAIN) and I'd probably self-implode.
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Great that Digne is back in the squad & hopefully Torres is fit enough to start.
Really need to see us back on the front foot
Positive performance and result to get everyone back on board please :-)
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Great that Digne is back in the squad & hopefully Torres is fit enough to start.
Really need to see us back on the front foot
Positive performance and result to get everyone back on board please :-)
Yep good news.
Just hope he starts Bailey over Diaby.
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If he's in the squad I'd start him!
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------------ Martinez ---------------
Cash Torres Carlos Digne
-- Kamara -- Luiz ------------
Mcginn ---- Tielemans --- Bailey
-------- Watkins --------------
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Digne favourite opposition to score against in the Prem is Man Utd.
He's scored twice against them.
He's also scored twice against Burnley.
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Digne favourite opposition to score against in the Prem is Man Utd.
He's scored twice against them.
He's also scored twice against Burnley.
That last point is ultra relevant.
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Digne favourite opposition to score against in the Prem is Man Utd.
He's scored twice against them.
He's also scored twice against Burnley.
That last point is ultra relevant.
Well no because Man Utd and Burnley are the two clubs he's scored the most goals against.
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Rashford & Garnacho hog the opposite wings and help stretch the pitch for lightning fast counters. When we've played Bailey/Diaby together they've both been in-field stood on each others toes. Sort it Unai
Three in midfield can leave us light in midfield, as it often did under Gerrard, McGinn struggles in it particularly and Kamara isn't good enough to be a modern day Roy Keane to hold the middle. But I'm definitely up for trying it when chasing the game.
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Lewis Jones sky sports of Jones Knows predicts a defeat.
Teams have found a way to stop Aston Villa. Home defeats to both Newcastle and Chelsea had been coming based on some sticky overall performances of late, notably in the 3-2 win over Burnley and draw with Everton. There is a common denominator with Villa's drop in levels in that Pau Torres has been missing.
They've struggled without his confidence with the ball and leadership without it. Opposition have cut off the supply lines to Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara by pinning them in and allowing Diego Carlos and Clement Lenglet to pass out.
Villa have subsequently made hard work of breaking the lines and moving the ball quickly. When then losing possession, teams have manage to expose Villa down the channels in behind their full-backs. Also, this lack of confidence in their crucial offside trap does make it easier for opposition players to make their runs.
Torres is key to all of this and his unavailability from the start makes the price for an away win look rather attractive at 21/10 with Sky Bet, especially as in Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho they posses the perfect type of direct wingers to expose Villa's vulnerability down the flanks. The pair ran riot in the 3-2 comeback win at Old Trafford with Garnacho scoring twice. They can lead United to their fourth straight away win in all competitions. Momentum is building.
Jones score prediction: 1-2
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Lewis Jones sky sports of Jones Knows.
Teams have found a way to stop Aston Villa. Home defeats to both Newcastle and Chelsea had been coming based on some sticky overall performances of late, notably in the 3-2 win over Burnley and draw with Everton. There is a common denominator with Villa's drop in levels in that Pau Torres has been missing.
They've struggled without his confidence with the ball and leadership without it. Opposition have cut off the supply lines to Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara by pinning them in and allowing Diego Carlos and Clement Lenglet to pass out.
Villa have subsequently made hard work of breaking the lines and moving the ball quickly. When then losing possession, teams have manage to expose Villa down the channels in behind their full-backs. Also, this lack of confidence in their crucial offside trap does make it easier for opposition players to make their runs.
Torres is key to all of this and his unavailability from the start makes the price for an away win look rather attractive at 21/10 with Sky Bet, especially as in Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho they posses the perfect type of direct wingers to expose Villa's vulnerability down the flanks. The pair ran riot in the 3-2 comeback win at Old Trafford with Garnacho scoring twice. They can lead United to their fourth straight away win in all competitions. Momentum is building.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2
Thank God for that.A win for us it is.
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Sunday could be a lovely day or a truly awful day.
I can't call it.
Some forecasts for you:
Robbie Savage 3-2
Chris Sutton 2-1
Paul Merson 2-2
Mark Lawrenson 1-2
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Lewis Jones sky sports of Jones Knows.
Teams have found a way to stop Aston Villa. Home defeats to both Newcastle and Chelsea had been coming based on some sticky overall performances of late, notably in the 3-2 win over Burnley and draw with Everton. There is a common denominator with Villa's drop in levels in that Pau Torres has been missing.
They've struggled without his confidence with the ball and leadership without it. Opposition have cut off the supply lines to Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara by pinning them in and allowing Diego Carlos and Clement Lenglet to pass out.
Villa have subsequently made hard work of breaking the lines and moving the ball quickly. When then losing possession, teams have manage to expose Villa down the channels in behind their full-backs. Also, this lack of confidence in their crucial offside trap does make it easier for opposition players to make their runs.
Torres is key to all of this and his unavailability from the start makes the price for an away win look rather attractive at 21/10 with Sky Bet, especially as in Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho they posses the perfect type of direct wingers to expose Villa's vulnerability down the flanks. The pair ran riot in the 3-2 comeback win at Old Trafford with Garnacho scoring twice. They can lead United to their fourth straight away win in all competitions. Momentum is building.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2
Thank God for that.A win for us it is.
He predicted we’d beat Newcastle too.
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Sunday could be a lovely day or a truly awful day.
that comes across very Dick Emery
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just beat these Villa and get back to winning at home....
UTV
The DOc
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It would just be what The DOCtor ordered.
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Fear a battering if I’m
Honest. Let’s hope I am wrong and it’s a battering for manure
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I think it's got draw written all over it. Which I think many people would take. I can't see Man Utd doing the double over Villa so soon after Newcastle. If that happened I would be very concerned. We've been spanked in the two consectutive home games so this one would be the old fashioned stop the bleeding result.
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Emery has said this match is a 6 pointer !
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Emery has said this match is a 6 pointer !
Well it's quite obvious that it is. Win and we're 11 points clear of them. Lose and it's 5 points.
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Martinez
Cash
Carlos
Torres
Moreno
Kamara
Luiz
McGinn
Watkins
Ramsey
Bailey
3-2 us (Watkins, Bailey, Luiz) Revenga will be sweet against these fuckers, momentum building my arse
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We win ugly. 1-0.
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Emery has said this match is a 6 pointer !
Well it's quite obvious that it is. Win and we're 11 points clear of them. Lose and it's 5 points.
2-2 it is. Without the Coutinho magic.
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I'm saying 0-0 as Emery dare not lose this one.
What happens if he does?
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I cannot see anything but a heavy loss to these…..hopefully my predictions are as reliable as footy’s.
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I'm saying 0-0 as Emery dare not lose this one.
What happens if he does?
Get Niel Warnock in,he definitely take us into champions league
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I can't get on board with betting against the Villa.
I can understand that. It seems disloyal. But I bet against them for the same reason I never have Villa players in my fantasy team. Karma, jinx, superstition, call it whatever. Totally illogical.
Loyalty is for marriage, bullies, and the SS!
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0-1
Rat Face with a late penalty.
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Change to the XI:
Martinez
Cash
Carlos
Torres
Digne
McGinn
Luiz
Kamara
Ramsey
Bailey
Watkins
Ball kept, press beat, opposition midfield detached, spaces made, spaces exploited, fuckers fucked.
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Not against it but it’d be a big ask for both Torres and Digne to start.
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Domhnall Gleeson on Late Late Show last night in Ireland.
Patrick Kielty,on behalf of his own kids, said to him 'You have been in Harry Potter, Star Wars etc, play for Man Utd and you will have conquered the world'.
Domhnall replied, 'No, I am an Aston Villa supporter'.
Love it. 1-0 up already.
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Domhnall Gleeson on Late Late Show last night in Ireland.
Patrick Kielty,on behalf of his own kids, said to him 'You have been in Harry Potter, Star Wars etc, play for Man Utd and you will have conquered the world'.
Domhnall replied, 'No, I am an Aston Villa supporter'.
Love it. 1-0 up already.
Brilliant!
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Sunday could be a lovely day or a truly awful day.
I can't call it.
Some forecasts for you:
Robbie Savage 3-2
Chris Sutton 2-1
Paul Merson 2-2
Mark Lawrenson 1-2
I was thinking it was refreshing to not see lawrenson always predicting a Manure win no matter their form. Thanks for showing he is still doing it somewhere.
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Their form’s pretty good isn’t it?
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Rob Jones Ref V Man Utd
This season he's awarded joint most red cards 4
Yellow Cards 4.36 per match
From 14 games this season Jones as ref
Home teams win percentage 57.1 %
Draw 28.6 %
Away 14.3 %
2 Villa matches this season booked McGinn and Kamara both games
2-1 win at Spurs . 4 booked Watkins McGinn Kamara and Cash
1-1 draw at Wolves. 2 booked McGinn and Kamara
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Their form’s pretty good isn’t it?
Recent form.
Unbeaten in the last 3 games in the league. They are third in the form table.
Man United have won their last three away games in the league and cup
Man Utd :10pts from last 6 matches
Villa: 8pts from last 6 matches
Historic form
MU have won 17 of 28 at Villa Park, only at Everton have they won more in the Prem.
They are unbeaten in 24 Premier League games in the month of February (15 wins, 9 draws) last losing in 2018
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Thanks Footy, yeah so annoyingly decent. I am sadly familiar with their record at Villa Park.
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Whatever happens, do not lose. A draw is fine, would keep the gap at 8 with better GD. Assuming 5th gets in, it's two from the three of us, Spurs and United for the CL so getting another game out the way where they can’t catch us, with the good fixtures we have coming up, is so important.
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Man Utd has been caught offside 60 times so far this season! The most in the league.
Chelsea rank second with 56 offsides yet were never caught once by us the other night
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Interesting point though. Why can Man Utd play Rashford and Ganarcho but we can't play Bailey and Diaby?
You'd have to ask Emery that, seeing as he rarely has.
That’s not true. They have played together many times and many on here have complained that they get in each other’s way and shouldn’t play together. I think Clampy’s post is questioning forum opinions.
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After the Debacle against Chelsea I had zero confidence in getting anything out of this game
But as a few days have come and gone I’m now reviewing it again and thinking, well actually I’m thinking exactly the same still got zero confidence
I mean, if we do get a winning goal it’s gonna have to come in the very last minute of injury time otherwise they’re always gonna equalise
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We've had more injuries than the Somme. But they have Lisandro Martínez out injured again for two months, which will be a blow to them. He seems to be their only vaguely competent CH.
I wouldn't be rushing Pau Torres back if he's 70 per cent fit only to have him break down again and be out for another big chunk of the season. We simply can't afford that.
These next two games have a feel of muddling through. Villa sides of various hues have been either garbage or occasionally unlucky against the Red Mancs at home and Fulham away. So expectations aren't high.
After that things might get a bit easier, partic with players returning and the C@lamity Twins back on the bench.
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Historic form
MU have won 17 of 28 at Villa Park, only at Everton have they won more in the Prem.
Surprised it's only 17, feels like more. Must be all those FA Cup games.
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Martinez is massive for them, I’m hoping his absence completely stuffs them.
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Martinez is massive for them, I’m hoping his absence completely stuffs them.
I had to read that twice, just to make sure. :)
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Even more critical we turn up tomorrow and win.
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Also if we go behind it can’t just be game over, we need to cope better when things go against us.
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Also if we go behind it can’t just be game over, we need to cope better when things go against us.
Actually only Brighton ,Spurs , Man City and Liverpool have gained more points than us when being behind.
Football 365:
Villa have 12 points gained from 11 deficits, 3 wins, 3 draws, 5 defeats
Twice fallen behind and gone on to lose heavily. The 2-0 defeat to Forest was similarly limp. But Unai Emery’s side have now put both Crystal Palace and Tottenham away after conceding first and recovered a point that appeared lost late on at Bournemouth. Villa rescued three points from behind at Brentford and another late on against Sheffield United, but chucked away three points at Manchester United. Never looked like getting anything against Newcastle, who have now paddled them home and away this season. Which is a weird one given the overall trajectories of both clubs’ seasons.
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I just want to say that I don't like them very much.
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Lewis ...
Jones score prediction: 1-2
So, he reads the comments on here, I'm guessing.
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Lewis ...
Jones score prediction: 1-2
So, he reads the comments on here, I'm guessing.
Has there been anything that says Pau is unavailable from the start?
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Lewis ...
Jones score prediction: 1-2
So, he reads the comments on here, I'm guessing.
Has there been anything that says Pau is unavailable from the start?
I'd be pleasantly surprised if he starts. Villa players are always injured for much longer than first thought, then Emery seems to like to reincorporate them into the squad before they're likely to play.
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This is a real 6 pointer, win & we open up a sizeable gap. Lose & United will be on our tails. Of all teams, I want to beat these more than anyone. The years of watching them celebrate another win at Villa Park sickens me.
But we must learn from how they've won against us at Old Trafford. They will try the same tomorrow but they are nothing to fear.
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Been saying since August , if we finish above Man Utd we will have had a good season and that in my mind is very much still the case .
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I love this fixture.
The anticipation is often better than the game.
My favourite memory has to be Coots's debut goal the other year.
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I just want to say that I don't like them very much.
I'm rather upset of how they are polluting our oceans.
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I love this fixture.
The anticipation is often better than the game.
My favourite memory has to be Coots's debut goal the other year.
“Often” try newly fucking always.
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Lewis ...
Jones score prediction: 1-2
So, he reads the comments on here, I'm guessing.
Has there been anything that says Pau is unavailable from the start?
My theory is that after his extensive half time warm up on wednesday he expected to come on, but the third goal changed the decision. I think he’ll start.
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Torres has been on the bench last 2 games , he's ready to start tomorrow.
Digne bench.
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Torres has been on the bench last 2 games , he's ready to start tomorrow.
Digne bench.
Torres was on the bench for Chelsea but not Sheffield United.
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This game is bigger than I would want it to be given how they usually go. If we win I think we’ll finish in the top 5 if we lose I think it will be difficult.
As Risso said above - this feels pivotal.
Come on Villa - let’s do this!!
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Robert jones is the referee ffs! Coote is on var! Ffs.
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Robert jones is the referee ffs! Coote is on var! Ffs.
It doesn't matter who the ref or var bellend is, they're all abysmal.
Fuck em. Let's smash everything Man Utd connected
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Praying I'm wrong here but I'm not confident and would happily take a draw now.
For me currently there are 3 players that are vital to this side in Martinez, Watkins and Konsa (with Torres slightly below those). We saw the other night how disjointed we looked with Kamara having to drop into defence when Cash ventured forward and Chelsea destroyed us in transitions. With United arguably one of the best sides in the league in transition when on song I'm fearing more of the same tomorrow. Really hope we pull a rabbit out of the hat as we all know how massive this game is.
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Robert jones is the referee ffs! Coote is on var! Ffs.
It doesn't matter who the ref or var bellend is, they're all abysmal.
Fuck em. Let's smash everything Man Utd connected
Ha, yeah, it makes me laugh when people are annoyed who is reffing. How many refs are there really where that wouldn't be your reaction? There aren't too many.
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Praying I'm wrong here but I'm not confident and would happily take a draw now.
For me currently there are 3 players that are vital to this side in Martinez, Watkins and Konsa (with Torres slightly below those). We saw the other night how disjointed we looked with Kamara having to drop into defence when Cash ventured forward and Chelsea destroyed us in transitions. With United arguably one of the best sides in the league in transition when on song I'm fearing more of the same tomorrow. Really hope we pull a rabbit out of the hat as we all know how massive this game is.
Torres is absolutely one of those absolutely critical players. Our dip has very much coincided with his absence.
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Usually for an overnight game I will watch ‘as live’ without knowing the result. For this one, I will check the result first to stave off the potential to waste nearly two hours waiting for the inevitable.
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Right Villa last two home displays have been dross - this is the opposition to be absolutely on it against and to bring back our sparkling home form. Just be fully at it and win the game, intensity, precision, and accuracy please.
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I reckon we'll bounce back. 3-1, all three goals subject to lengthy checks by var in an effort to find something to overturn them. Luiz, Watkins and Ramsey for us. Ralph Milne for them.
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I feel a bit responsible for the last two home losses. I'm two hours ahead of GMT here, and anything past 10pm means I'm not interested in football due to the intoxicating effects of communist weed. I'd put the game on, wait for us to concede and then switch over to something less challenging.
Well that changes today. It's going to be at 6.30, the commie weed will only have started to take its grip and it's my birthday. We will be annihilated.
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IF we go 2-0 up against this lot, we need to 'go like the clappers' to get a third and fourth.
Sick to death of their late comebacks.
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I feel a bit responsible for the last two home losses. I'm two hours ahead of GMT here, and anything past 10pm means I'm not interested in football due to the intoxicating effects of communist weed. I'd put the game on, wait for us to concede and then switch over to something less challenging.
Well that changes today. It's going to be at 6.30, the commie weed will only have started to take its grip and it's my birthday. We will be annihilated.
What a day for a birthday; Manure and 49ers v Chiefs.
I hope you have a great day!
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I want to see us play like the home team again, on the front foot. Not just for the first five minutes but for most of the game. Chelsea and Newcastle have been here recently and played like they own the place. That's all wrong.
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I know we’ve played poorly in the last two home games but I’m still a surprised by the negativity on here. I think we’ll win this but not predicting a score. This is the biggest game in football for me and winning it feels better than anything. Let’s do this Villa
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I know we’ve played poorly in the last two home games but I’m still a surprised by the negativity on here. I think we’ll win this but not predicting a score. This is the biggest game in football for me and winning it feels better than anything. Let’s do this Villa
If it’s the biggest game for you then you should know what inspires the specific negativity here!
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Without doubt, today is the biggest game of the season so far for me. I believe they are the only team below us currently that can finish above us.
If we win, it puts us 11 points plus the GD ahead. I can't see them making that back. Draw it will be tight. If they win, I can see us faltering badly under the pressure, giving that we have not played well of late.
Come on the Villa. Let's put is a proper statement performance.
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Need a fighting performance from midfield for this one, against Chelsea there were a couple of players just not putting in. They like to counter attack so I wonder if they will apply a hard press.
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I've been too low since Wednesday to come on here before.
I'm reluctant to go later, suspecting the inevitable and still a bit raw after Boxing Day , but I'll end up going (because you still do, don't you?) I'll even stay for our late consolation goal: Ollie's turn today!
Another 1-3, I fear, and radio silence for days afterwards... :'(
As it says in the relevant thread, it's just a matter of Getting It Over With!
Happy Birthday Adviilafan: Villa could end up making it a good one after all: you never know! :)
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I see that Emery and Watkins have stated that supporters must do their share and support in this game.
What's the comment from for those who attended one or both of the last two home games. I watched them both on TV.
I sensed a frustration in the Chelsea match particularly. After going a goal down and by half time . I shared that sentiment just from intensely watching via broadcast television ( Dixon and Matterface weren't helping)
Observing and looking back the mood in side the stadium seems reactionary as opposed to one of continuous, positive, singing and vocal enthusiasm. It appears that the volume decreases when we are struggling.
So what's the view and experience from those attending be it in the holte or anywhere at Villa Park???
Need to get behind the boys today and get it rocking.
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I've been too low since Wednesday to come on here before.
I'm reluctant to go later, suspecting the inevitable and still a bit raw after Boxing Day , but I'll end up going (because you still do, don't you?) I'll even stay for our late consolation goal: Ollie's turn today!
Another 1-3, I fear, and radio silence for days afterwards... :'(
As it says in the relevant thread, it's just a matter of Getting It Over With!
Happy Birthday Adviilafan: Villa could end up making it a good one after all: you never know! :)
All the best to you attending bring us the luck !!
And I hope all attending can feel some positivity somewhere somehow with some belief.
Up The Villa.
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It’s very difficult for us as fans to be really raucous when the team is playing at slower than walking pace, offering nothing to get excited about and, generally looking as if most of the players can’t be arsed. Give us something, anything to get us on our feet. After all, we are paying a lot of money to put even more money into the players pockets!!
Also, as has been mentioned many times, the build up with the ear splitting music etc is not ideal as I doubt the players can hear any of our chanting!!
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I've been too low since Wednesday to come on here before.
I'm reluctant to go later, suspecting the inevitable and still a bit raw after Boxing Day , but I'll end up going (because you still do, don't you?) I'll even stay for our late consolation goal: Ollie's turn today!
Another 1-3, I fear, and radio silence for days afterwards... :'(
As it says in the relevant thread, it's just a matter of Getting It Over With!
Happy Birthday Adviilafan: Villa could end up making it a good one after all: you never know! :)
All the best to you attending bring us the luck !!
And I hope all attending can feel some positivity somewhere somehow with some belief.
Up The Villa.
Thanks, Footy! :)
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It’s very difficult for us as fans to be really raucous when the team is playing at slower than walking pace, offering nothing to get excited about and, generally looking as if most of the players can’t be arsed. Give us something, anything to get us on our feet. After all, we are paying a lot of money to put even more money into the players pockets!!
Also, as has been mentioned many times, the build up with the ear splitting music etc is not ideal as I doubt the players can hear any of our chanting!!
Couldn’t agree more on both counts
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It’s very difficult for us as fans to be really raucous when the team is playing at slower than walking pace, offering nothing to get excited about and, generally looking as if most of the players can’t be arsed. Give us something, anything to get us on our feet. After all, we are paying a lot of money to put even more money into the players pockets!!
Also, as has been mentioned many times, the build up with the ear splitting music etc is not ideal as I doubt the players can hear any of our chanting!!
Couldn’t agree more on both counts
Ok thanks for the take and rationale.
Let's hope there is plenty to shout (positively) about!
It will be very result /performance dependent of course.
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I want to see us play like the home team again, on the front foot. Not just for the first five minutes but for most of the game. Chelsea and Newcastle have been here recently and played like they own the place. That's all wrong.
Is Emery's first match and the 3-1 win what you have in mind?
That was just wonderful! Wasn't it?
Even bringing it back to 2-1, I just knew Villa would do it that day!
Ramsey, another performance from you, please!
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Dread this game, some of my worst experiences at VP are matches versus this shower.
1-3 to them.
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I feel a bit responsible for the last two home losses. I'm two hours ahead of GMT here, and anything past 10pm means I'm not interested in football due to the intoxicating effects of communist weed. I'd put the game on, wait for us to concede and then switch over to something less challenging.
Well that changes today. It's going to be at 6.30, the commie weed will only have started to take its grip and it's my birthday. We will be annihilated.
What a day for a birthday; Manure and 49ers v Chiefs.
I hope you have a great day!
Could be a belter of a tomorrow morning for me. Could also be abysmal.
Happy birthday SE, mate!
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Praying I'm wrong here but I'm not confident and would happily take a draw now.
For me currently there are 3 players that are vital to this side in Martinez, Watkins and Konsa (with Torres slightly below those). We saw the other night how disjointed we looked with Kamara having to drop into defence when Cash ventured forward and Chelsea destroyed us in transitions. With United arguably one of the best sides in the league in transition when on song I'm fearing more of the same tomorrow. Really hope we pull a rabbit out of the hat as we all know how massive this game is.
Torres is absolutely one of those absolutely critical players. Our dip has very much coincided with his absence.
I'm a massive Torres fan and his build up play is huge for us. I just feel like although we're not as fluid we have managed to pick up a few results without him.
It's the space that is created for the opposition when Konsa is out that makes me think he's more important for the team. Hopefully Unai has a masterplan up his sleeve today to counteract that.
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Time for a reaction from them all today including the manager.
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It’s very difficult for us as fans to be really raucous when the team is playing at slower than walking pace, offering nothing to get excited about and, generally looking as if most of the players can’t be arsed. Give us something, anything to get us on our feet. After all, we are paying a lot of money to put even more money into the players pockets!!
Also, as has been mentioned many times, the build up with the ear splitting music etc is not ideal as I doubt the players can hear any of our chanting!!
I agree on the second point.
On the first point, the slow build up from the back is the we’ve always played under Emery, mostly successfully. I tend to think the crowd has largely adjusted to this and you rarely get the irritation and urge to get it forward quicker. Being a holt ender, ive noticed that this patience has been a bit less so in the cup games this season, with a lot of un familiar faces round by me. Nothing wrong with this as its difficult to get tickets these days, but i tend to think people who can’t go every week might have different expectations. If you do go every week and are still frustrated with the slow buid up, its probably as simple as we lost.
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we have not conceded a pen all season , we are playing the red scum so Id expect a pen to them , maybe Emi will save it
Seems we are shit at home at the moment and the scum are in form so are going for 3-0 Villa , possibility they wil get a pen so maybe 3 1 but Im expecting a good performance today .
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I predict a draw. 2-2 with us taking a 2-0 lead and their equaliser coming in the 18th minute of stoppage time.
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I predict a draw. 2-2 with us taking a 2-0 lead and their equaliser coming in the 18th minute of stoppage time.
Would make a nice change.
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Rambo, I know what you mean about the patient build up but, the last few games has taken it to a whole different level. With Martinez having one of the highest touched of the ball in a match, I think that tells us something. Earlier in the season it was a slow and then quick balls to attack. Now, the attacking quick ball seems to have disappeared. Even when we’re losing, with 20 minutes to go, we seem to spend half of that time passing between our defenders and goalkeeper with each player looking to play it backwards with not much thought of a quick forward ball. By the time one of our players decides to play it forwards our attackers are all marked so very difficult for them to find space.
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It’s very difficult for us as fans to be really raucous when the team is playing at slower than walking pace, offering nothing to get excited about and, generally looking as if most of the players can’t be arsed.
I'd like to see a bit more high octane football at times and to certainly start a bit quicker.
But nine wins at home already this season and a run of 15 in a row in the league suggests that they definitely can be arsed.
We're clearly playing to instruction; keeping possession until we work a gap and trying to exploit it with the pace of Watkins, Bailey or Diaby.
Our overall record for the best part of a year suggests we are quite good at it.
We've been hamstrung recently with the loss of two defensive rocks that were better at covering if the ball went in behind.
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Bailey's a key player, if he finds his A game, then that improves our chances greatly.
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It’s very difficult for us as fans to be really raucous when the team is playing at slower than walking pace, offering nothing to get excited about and, generally looking as if most of the players can’t be arsed.
We're clearly playing to instruction; keeping possession until we work a gap and trying to exploit it with the pace of Watkins, Bailey or Diaby.
But how do you exploit them with pace if we've slowed the game down enough for them to get back in position and set themselves? I mean he his plan has clearly worked for most of the season but I'm not sure utilising Diaby's pace is something we have really done much of.
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A decent 2-2 with no VAR crap going on will do me.....
Keep them off our tails with that points gap, then we push on the rest of the season for 4th
Watkins 2 Shit Freddie Mercury and a n other for Newton Heath in the 21st min of 'their time'
How this lot are so high up the table with that goal difference is unreal......they have been shite most of the season
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theres only one claret and blue team getting smashed today .
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Win would be great, but a draw wouldn't be the worst result and it would take us back up to 4th.
I do expect a reaction today from the disappointment of midweek.
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We'll score an early goal that gets ruled out on review and then we'll fall apart. 0-3 to them.
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Looking at their team, I think they'll be looking to get the ball wide as quickly as possible and get at our full-backs.
If Bailey is going to play in his usual wide position, it will be interesting to see who will be in the no.10 position. McGinn maybe?